The Saginaw News On To Fetch A Thief

When Peanut the elephant and his trainer disappear from a family circus in financial trouble, private eye Bernie Little and his canine partner Chet take the case.

The trail leads to Mexico, separating Bernie and Chet and forcing Chet to take matters into his own paws. This delightfully offbeat mystery combines suspense with lacings of humor, most of which comes from Chet’s extremely “doggy” narration.

This is the third entry in the “Chet and Bernie” mystery series. The writer is a New York Times best-selling author writing under the pseudonym of Spencer Quinn. Fun for both mystery and dog lovers.

This entry was posted
on Monday, February 14th, 2011 at 8:01 am and is filed under Chet The Dog.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Good morning, y’all! I was just thinking, the really good news about the report that Spence figures to have the latest C&B book finished soon is that we’ll get to continue with Astrid case — finally! Soon we’ll get the answers we’ve all been waiting for!!!

Rio: I’ve decided to post the “before” pictures of Mom and Dad’s closet. I’m going to do one at a time so I don’t have any problems — I hope!

The first one is looking into the closet from the library. You can see one of the siding walls, and it looks like someone made an old exterior window into a shelf. The door on the end goes to Mom and Dad’s bedroom.

The second shows the chimney — no fireplace, just chimney! The house is only one story, so we can’t figure out what the chimney is for — there’s no opening for a wood stove or anything, unless it’s on the fourth side that we can’t see.

And here is the fourth wall — siding again, and another shelf built into what looks like an old exterior window. You can see the edge of the doorway leading to the library — three doors into this one small room!

Sam: You’re right — it is a lot of work, and there are still some spots that need yet another coat! You should have seen Dad when he did the kitchen ceiling — it’s 15 by 15 and 13 feet off the ground! He did a lot of cussing on that one! Mom couldn’t help with it because she doesn’t do ladders!!! (Luckily, the closet ceiling is 95 inches high, so Mom can do that on a step-stool.) He also has done the ceilings in the dining room and part of the hallway. The part of the hallway he hasn’t done is above the stairs to the attic and must be about a hundred feet in the air! I think he’s going to have to get some scaffolding for that part!

So far Mom and Dad have put one coat of white paint in the closet, and Mom’s going to do another coat on her next day off. You can’t tell real well from the pictures, but it used to be off-white, so they’re painting it “real” white to make it brighter in there, since there aren’t any windows and the lighting isn’t the best. One of these days they might try to get an electrician in to put some real lighting in the ceiling, but until that happens they’ll settle for the motion-detecting hanging light.

They’re leaving the siding and the chimney and the built-in shelves. They say they want to leave the “character” of the closet the way it is, but I think they just don’t want to do all the work to make look like a brand-new closet!

Rio: Happy Valentine’s Day to you, too! I almost forgot about it — this morning Dad kissed Mom and told her, “Happy Jedeveon Clowney Day”! Some people have called Clowney the No. 1 high school football recruit in the country, but unlike the other players, Jedeveon Clowney decided not to to sign on Signing Day. Instead he decided to make his annoucement today, which is not only Valentine’s Day but his birthday! So he’s got the whole state — well, people who care anyway! — waiting with baited breath for today’s announcement. Will he disappoint half of the state by choosing the University of South Carolina? Devastate the other half of the state by selecting Clemson University? or will he simply destroy us all by going out of state? The State newspaper has had a “Clowney Watch” article in the paper every day for months — will he, won’t he? Today’s paper has a big photo of him on the front page and a half-page photo of him on the front of the sports page.

Oh joy! NOT! He just announced during the LIVE press conference on ESPN that he has chosen South Carolina. Since my boy and girl root for Clemson, I’m sad for them. But I totally am glad this whole circus is over! I was getting really tired of it! The only problem is that Dad will listen to his sports show tomorrow morning while he’s making my breakfast, and that ALL THEY’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT!!!

Bee: Most of the rooms in this house have at least two or three doors in them. It makes it hard to arrange furniture, especially when combined with the windows and fireplaces! The office, kitchen, dining room and master bathroom all have three doors; the library has four — and a fireplace!

Mom and Dad have often wondered about the history of this house — Mom even bought a book about how to research old houses. One of these days she might even get around to reading it and following the instructions!!!

Oops! That’s supposed to be “folks around here,” but maybe the folks around “he” will remember, too! It’s ridiculous giving all that attention to a high school football player — regardless of how good he is!

Kirby: They could go to city hall (or the equivalent) to look up any tax records. There should have been an Abstract for the house which they should have received when they bought the house. If not, check with the title company or the previous owners.

Bee: One of the previous owners did come by to see the house once when Dad was outside doing some work on it. He had done extensive remodeling inside — he’s the one who raised the ceiling back to the original height after someone else had lowered it. Mom and Dad were grateful to him for that, but they weren’t as thrilled when they found out from another source that he had found a bunch of stuff behind one of the fireplaces when he was remodeling — an old newspaper and other stuff, we’re not sure what — and apparently kept it all when he moved. Mom and Dad thought that should have stayed with the house!

Bee: Unfortunately, Dad didn’t think to get his new address or even his name — he wasn’t the one Mom and Dad bought the house from, and we’re not sure how long ago he had it. All Dad remembers from their conversation is that he and his dad did a lot of work on the house, and sometime after they sold the house and moved away he and his wife got a divorce — Mom and Dad wondered if it had anything to do with he and his dad spending so much time on the house!

Wolfie: I’m not sure how much supervising I’ll be able to do — it’s much too tempting to run in circles through the house since those two doors are open!

Fond memories of riding across that bridge with Dad driving the old Rambler station wagon, all the kids playing the alphabet game or bickering or asking to stop to pee, on our way to Grandma and Grampa’s house.

B.Stover! The song Saginaw, Michigan is going around and around in my head. I could never forget what state Saginaw is in because of that song. I wish that song would go away.
I am attempting to have a coffee with foamy richness with my new tool for making milk foamy.

Rio: Did your friend go to Mackinac Island? They don’t allow cars there….You get there by ferry. It’s fun riding around the island on bikes–one or two-seaters. And the fudge is delicious. I think that the movie Somewhere In Time was filmed there. I haven’t been there in years.

Stover!…She said they did go to Mackinaw Island. They did not ride bikes like she wanted to because her friends stupid bar-fly sister invited herself along on the trip and ruined the whole thing for my friend….grump!…This sister didn’t want to see any of the island except the insides of dark smelly bars….growl!….What a hag she was…sniff!

B.Stover. My grandparents lived in Crystal, Michigan. Mom was born in Alma. I was born in Detroit.
Yes, an aerolatte. I need to follow the directions. I “frothed too much” for my first cup. Heh. I love this. I’m going to drag out my old expresso coffee pot now.
After I read Macy’s stories.

Sweethearts!… I wonder what Wookie has in store for his girlfriend Audrey?…snorkel!… I hope he remembers to clean out the Wookiemobile from the Super Bowl road trip before he picks her up for their date tonight.…heh!

Melanie, That Media Mail is pretty fast! It is less expensive, too, and it seems that they do not want to tell you about it at the P.O. At least not at our P.O. Then they questioned Barb to make sure it really was ONLY a book that she was sending.

Last week she was going to send a $4.00 bag of chili mix to her brother, and they wanted $7.98 to send it. She said no, she would keep it and make her own chili.

Sheeesh! Wasn’t this problem disgusted yesterday? I do occasionally have that “duplicate comment” remark show up, but never when it actually happens. I press the submit button once, and once only, and it shows up twice. I do not have the shakes from drinking too much coffee. I’m going for a nap, damn it all.

OTAS and F have taken in another dog. This one is a lab, Emma. Emma is way over weight; she looks like a seal. OTAS and F have put her on a good diet kibble and are beginning to exercise her. I asked if they were using the tread mill (they do that for Papi, he’s very muscular) and they aren’t yet. She can hardly walk. They are starting her off very slowly and not very far.

Mollie: I have a Mr. Coffee espresso machine that I got either from Bed, Bath…or Amazon.com. You also need a tamper to press down the grounds, and a metal pitcher with handle and spout to heat the milk in. I use french roast coffee beans that I grind. You need to use a spatula to let the warm milk into the coffee (in the cup) and then pour the foam on top.

You can do lots of different things with the coffee. There are syrups to sweeten it (I sometimes use vanilla), some put carmel or chocolate syrup on the foam, or you can sprinkle coco powder or cinnimon on top.

Stoverbucks!….I can see it all now!…snort!…The advertisement: “Walk into Stoverbucks and get that rich frothiness you crave morning, noon or night! Stover makes it herself while you watch! Then she gives you an English Lit lesson for Free!”…snort!snort!

Or!…Perhaps, “ Receive a Free English Lit Lesson on Request with purchase of a Grande Frothy. For a fee add a Poetry Lesson will be included.”….sniff!…Depending on the volumn of the crowd of course…gruff!

Mom is finally home and she’s been muttering. Apparently some a**hole chickypoo at her busy place decided that today would be a good day to slam back some shots on the drive to the busy place. Coworker smelled al-kee-hawl, told the boss, who came to mom’s cube PDQ. Mom spent her afternoon at the doctor’s office helping the chicky breathe into a boxy thingy with a buncha numbers that come out the end of it. Regardless of adamant de-niles, the numbers don’t lie! And the numbers say: drunk on your a** chicky! Mom is preparing her steel-toed stillettos to punt the snockered chick to the next farm down the road. Maybe that place won’t care that her yolks are scrambled, but mom’s busy place won’t put up with it. Mom can’t stop shaking her head and saying, “Stupid, stupid, stupid!” I hope she stops the muttering before the Nation’s Oscars come on.

Oh yeah, it’s Valentine’s Day, and my 2-legged brother’s 24th birthday. Mom says if he wants a nip or two, he will do so at home, ’cause she raised him right.

Fired!… Wow! Jasper someone who works in the same department with my friend at the not-busy-at-all place was fired today too!….snort!… It totally upset my friend, only by the fact that she has not been given a clear reason as to why this person is gone now….sniff!….It’s been a very upsetting day for her and we are really looking forward to the WDShow….snort! ….Actually I think it has started on one of the channels….yeep! yeep! ….Go Pugs! Go Pugs!….wooooo!

The powder puff is reporting in. Thanks for thinking of me, Rio
Did I miss a Newf or a Wonderfluffed Siberian in the dog show? We just turned the tv on.
I have not been Wonderfluffed, in case you are wondering.

We hope that you all noticed that they used a CORGI to explain the perfection of breed standards. She was truly lovely too. Can’t wait for the herding class – the last one of the night to see how she does.
That Scottish Deerhound was too gorgeous! did you see that action on the move? Wow! Grace on foot.

Pug!… Came in 3rd!! Yes!….Wow! We’ve not seen that happen in a while…sob!sob!sob!… Here’s to Oscar De La Hoya!…Wooooo! ….heh!… Now we are rooting for the Goldens, Newfs, Siber Huskies and Standard Poodles…sniff!…Who have I forgotten?….gruff!

Did you all notice the Harrier Hound in the first group? His name was Chet! Wonder if a certain series of books was an influence. Googled Harrier Hound Chet and found this:

Coda The Harrier – Ch. Downhome Family Tradition is proud to learn his son, Ch. Downhome HiTech Innovator (Chet), has won Best of Breed at Westminster today. Chet is the 3rd straight generation to have achieved this honour in his pedigree.

Corgis! ….NO I didn’t I swear!…sniff!… We just watched the all white Bulldog and my friend totally fell in love with him…grunt! ….Actually, I would not mind a bulldog brother. He would make me look slim and handsome…heh!

Yup – we have heard all the “reasons” for that ridiculous, overblown, phooney poodle cut…but when they talk about the poodle as a hunting dog and then they show them backstage with the curlers and such in their hair….come on…..
We still think that the show poodles must be embarrassed.

Hi Alice – there is no such thing as a cat-like dog, no matter what Siber and some of the others say. I mean, can you imagine US standing on that platform, letting the judge run his hands on our underbits, and then let a handler lift us off the table BY OUR TAILS??? We’d scratch their eyes out!

Well, our favorite from tonight’s winners is the Scottish Deerhound. We hope that the Newfie and the Golden and the Siberian all do well tomorrow.
Best in Show is going to be great…as long as that dam little raccoon, oops we mean Peke doesnt’ win…

T & G We were thinking along the lines of drovers vs gathers, but your answer was better….and the Pembroke placed 4th. Not bad at all. We have to say the Beardie was georgous and had such fluid movement.

That beardie was pretty. Mama had a beardie once, long before she discovered that Corgis are the bestest dogs ever. But she did say that the beardie was a wonderful doggie, and was absolutly responsible for keeping Mama’s mother from surrendering to a medically induced depression. That little dog never left her side, and let her use her coat for a crying towel. She was such a good companion, and smart as a box of harvard graduates.

Rio, Goldens would be in the hunting dog group and Newfs and Huskeys are both in the working dog group, both tomorrow, along with the Terrier group. Tonight we had hounds, toy, non-working and herding.

Facebook!… Sort of watching a Facebook news thing and at the same time knowing we need to go to our beds…NOW!…snort!

FB!…Mark Zuckerburg…growl!..Beware, be smart like SiberH and NOT participate if you do not have to in Facebook…grunt!…Facebook has way too much information about everyone…grump!…. My friend is going to disconnect her account as soon as possible even though she gave no info. ..sniff!…She will try to erase everything she can anyway …blah!Puke! … And grump! Sick of this bullshit data selling crap!…growl!

Supposed to get to -50 tonight. Yukon Quest should be finishing in a couple of days. Warmer temps are coming at the end of the week. Valentine’s Day means that I make 300+ balloon bouquets (an annual fundraiser for the library). Started early and finished at the last bell except for teachers’ orders which took another 30 minutes. Tired! Every year I mean to take photos but every year I am too busy. Oh well, survived another one.

[…]What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & assist different users like its aided me. Good job.[…]…

Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve visited this
site before but after looking at some of the posts I realized
it’s new to me. Regardless, I’m definitely pleased I discovered it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!

There is a storage area where pool supplies and equipment is kept.
– Immediate access to a gorgeous deck or patio outdoors also adds to the return. Smaller scale leasehold
improvements, or remodeling of an existing restaurant will keep the cost on the lower end.